The End of the Fantasy (Book #6 of the Sage Saga) (10 page)

“GET ME OUT OF HERE!” she yelled, and he immediately willed her to leave his body. She seeped out of his chest the way she had entered, and he nearly missed catching her when the stone had fully formed and dropped into his hands. He placed it on the clump of branches next to him and a flash of light erupted through the forest rooftops, bursting through every crack in the branches it could find. When the light faded, Lily stood there, hugging herself and shuddering. Bastion tried to reach out for her but she held up a hand to stop him.

“Just give me a moment,” she said, and he waited patiently. He looked beneath him and saw the dead bodies of a couple Yama in the dead grass below. A strange, pungent, rusty smell tainted the air, and whenever a breeze came through, it got stronger, nearly making him gag.

“The Yama are gone?” he asked her, and she blinked rapidly, gathering her thoughts.

“Dead,” she confirmed. “You got them all.”

“Even the giant? And Eiko?”

“Even them,” she said, looking into his eyes for the first time since she went back into her human form. Her hand was still covering her mouth. “I had no idea what it was like.”

“What?”

“What if feels like when you lose yourself…I had seen your memories…kind of. They were really hazy, but I never knew what it really meant.”

“Are you okay?” he asked, afraid of the answer. Her lips parted slowly as she cast her eyes beneath his, as if she was finding the proper words to say.

“Are you aware of what’s going on when that happens?”

“Not really,” he said nervously. “It’s kind of like my body just takes over.”

“Do you have any idea why?”

“I figure it’s like a survival mechanism, but I never really thought about it. Daisy once said that it might have something to do with my tolerance of pain, and how I never really felt it much in life, so when I do…I kind of lose it. Like a child having a tantrum.”

“I wish that’s all it was,” she chuckled lightly. “But it’s more than that…Bastion, someone is controlling you.”

“What?” he laughed, but her face was dead serious.

“You were no longer in control, and though I could still feel that you were…somewhere, it was like I was standing next to a lake and you were on the other side.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“All I know is that it wasn’t you moving your muscles. How quick you were…how responsive you were…it wasn’t you. Maybe this ‘transformation’ does kick in when you are facing death, but something or someone else definitely takes over. It was insane. I was calling out for you over and over but you weren’t there, and then whatever it was noticed me. It started…I don’t know, it felt like I was being watched, like it was trying to figure out a way to remove me.”

“What does that mean? I’ve never heard or felt anyone else inside of me…do you think someone’s seriously in control? Kind of like James and his Quietus heritage? He would hear voices through Thorn back when—”

“No, I would have known if you were part of two cultures. This is different. It’s almost like…you’re not even human. It felt like you were a candle that had just been snuffed out, and when they were done with you, you were re-lit.”

“That can’t be true,” Bastion said, though he had no argument against it. He had refused to question what happened when he lost himself because he was afraid of the answers. He was already a freak. What good would come of dwelling even further into why?

“Do you remember much about your childhood?”

“Before Quietus?”

“Yes.”

“Who does? I mean…I remember my parents and the village in Allay before I was taken.”

“Did you always have a tolerance against pain?”

“I never really fell as a kid. Not saying that I wasn’t running around. Just lucky I guess. Why do you ask? You think I was made?” He could already see the hurt in her eyes at the implications. He could hear her thoughts:
Would that be so bad?

“I don’t know. You seem very human. It’s just when you lose yourself…I don’t know what that is. What that means.”

“Let’s say I was created. By who? And why? The Yama? The Delilah? For what reason?”

“I don’t know,” she said. Bastion stared at her for a moment and then he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, let’s start heading out. We can talk about this more while we head out.”

“Where are we going?”

“Languor. We’re going to see if there’s anyone left that can help us before we head to Prattle.”

“But aren’t you concerned about what we just learned? There’s the potential that whoever is on the other side of this might be able to control you at any time.”

“Hmm,” he mused. “Then I guess you and I are more alike than we originally thought.” Bastion leapt from the tree branches, leaving Lily up above. She watched him walk away for a moment and then she jumped down and followed behind.

More alike than we originally thought.

Strangely, hearing the words made her happy.

“It’s so beautiful,” Marie replied as they barely skimmed the top of the ocean. Under the dawning light of the sun, the water appeared to crystalize, and the waves were flowing so gently that it was like a soft lullaby to her ears. She tried to place the sound, but even as a Prattlian, she was at a loss for words. The closest she came to a proper analogy was saying that it was like someone was pouring a pitcher of water into a lake, but she then dismissed the thought. It didn’t do it justice.

The ocean breeze, the salt on her tongue and the smell that pressed into her hair. Why hadn’t she ever gone out over the ocean before? Why had her people let fear rule them for so long? They were missing out on so much.

So, so much.

She gave the sky a big smile as she pressed a hand against the crown of her head, letting the winds take her into a daydream of delectable smells and dainty notions. Yes, it was time for the Prattlian people to become doers. Now more than ever.

She just had to survive the next few days or so.

“Marie, do you—” Talia began.

“Shhhh,” Catherine giggled, waving her hand toward Talia in a motion that looked like she was patting the air. “Let her enjoy this moment.”

“It’s funny how complacent I’ve gotten,” Talia laughed heartily. “After you showed me what you and James could do, I made my own private beach. I go there every day actually. I have a bed on the sand.”

“Oh, that sounds delightful,” she giggled. Catherine looked over at Daisy who was sitting near the butt of the bird. She was staring out over the ocean as Marie had, except her face was not the same. It was one of sorrow. Catherine scooted her butt toward her and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She jumped a little, as if coming out of a daze, and then she gave them a weak smile. Catherine wasn’t about to let what she saw go.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Daisy chuckled under her breath.

“I miss Bastion,” she said. Catherine’s smile faded as she glanced over at Talia. Talia pursed her lips and sighed.

“We’ll probably see him again,” Catherine said, putting a hand on Daisy’s shoulder. Daisy shook her head.

“Yeah, but under what circumstances? From what side? What happened in Languor…I can’t get it out of my head. I don’t know if I ever will.”

“You could have told me about this earlier. I would helped anyway I could.”

“I know, but I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. I just decided to pour myself into the mission. Surviving, fighting, stuff like that. Everything we were supposed to learn in the Academy, I’m out here learning firsthand. It’s taken up more of my time than I thought it would. I don’t really have time to think except at night, or like right now…when there’s moments to spare. I don’t enjoy these moments as much as Marie does.”

“It gets hard,” Catherine replied. “But you have to always look ahead, not on what happened. When I think of the past…” she stopped to swallow the lump in her throat. “I think of James, and I know that’s not going to save us. Thinking of the past never does. The only time you should dwell on such things is when you’re facing a tough decision. You call up the past as a reference, like it’s one of the books in your library—consult it, and then put it back on the shelf.”

“Bastion is all alone,” Daisy said, gritting her teeth. Catherine noticed a tear flowing down her cheek. Daisy removed it before it hit her chin, but it had been there just the same. “He’s a good kid. He really is. I liked him. He made me laugh and I was hard on him…but that didn’t mean I didn’t love him in my own way. I was just stupid. Trying too hard to show off how tough I am. I should have just been his friend. All that social crap didn’t even matter. I wonder if he even thinks about me…”

“Bastion’s really strong. He’ll be okay.”

“He’s strong physically, but not mentally. He’s had a traumatic childhood, and people expect so much of him…or they fear him. He’s trying to work through it all, but he needs help, and I’m not there. I couldn’t look at him after what happened to Kent, and I can’t help but think that I…that I…that I might have killed him…or worse.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I should have been there for him. Told him it wasn’t his fault. But I shunned him. I treated him like all the other kids back at the academy…and now I have to live with that…and whatever Bastion does next.”

“The Yama’s invasion doesn’t all ride on Bastion. It’s upon all our shoulders. The Quietus, Prattlians, Langorans…even the Yama and Delilah, whoever they may be. We’re all connected. None of us are invincible. None of us have all the power. The fact that we’re heading toward the Yama homeland now is a great accomplishment. I don’t know what we’ll find there, but I know this. All the sacrifices that were made so that we can get there…those debts will be settled. My husband’s death…the only way I can deal with it is knowing that it counted for something. That he might have given Bastion a piece of the personal puzzle he’s been trying to solve. His last words might be just enough for Bastion not to give up, or quit, or Maker forbid, side with the enemy. I just know that he’ll have an integral part in all of this. I’m sure of it. But I have to hope that he’ll make the right choices. As bad as it is to say. It’s better that what happened in Languor happened then, and not now, while the Yama are invading.”

“Yeah,” Daisy sniffed. “I guess I just wish I could have done more.”

“You’ll have plenty to do,” Catherine laughed. “I hope you understand what’s at stake.”

“What do you mean?”

“She means that we need to know our roles in this,” Talia replied loudly, breaking into the conversation and ruining Marie’s daydream simultaneously. “From here on out, we carry out Catherine’s orders without hesitation, no matter what they are. No matter how controversial you think they may be. She might ask Marie for consul, but Catherine is still in charge.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Daisy asked, confused by what felt like hostility coming from Talia.

“Because everything that happened back there was nothing compared to what may happen when we hit shore. This is unknown territory and Catherine is more equipped than all of us when it comes to making decisions on the fly. Once our feet hit land, we lose our individuality. And Daisy, she’s going to need the two of us most.”

“I’m no fighter,” Marie said, back in the real world. “So I’ll be accompanying Catherine as an advisor and an assistant. Little more. Should a fight arise, she might not be able to help because she will be representing the land we come from. Furthermore, some dirty work might be required. And that might mean doing things that will keep you up sleepless.”

“I’ll do what I have to,” Daisy sighed. Her hands were beginning to tremble.

“I don’t doubt your allegiance,” Talia said with a warm smile. “It’s merely your inexperience that we’re addressing. I’ll take care of most of the dirty business, but if for whatever reason I’m killed or apprehended, you have to take over immediately. No hesitation. Understood?”

“Yes,” Daisy replied. “I’ll do my part. I promise.”

“Well ladies,” Marie replied. “I suppose it was nice getting to know you all. Might be our last day together.” She pointed to the front of the bird and out over the horizon. In the distance, many miles away, a foreign land lay ahead, approaching them by the second. There were mountains that were shining bright under the rays of the sun, and there wasn’t as much “green” as they had expected. If this land contained forests, it sure wasn’t visible yet.

“Those are probably buildings,” Talia said, shielding her eyes from the sun. “The shining surfaces on the mountains. There’s so many of them…it might be a city.”

“No city that I’ve seen,” Catherine said in awe. “A place with that many buildings…I can only imagine how many people must be there.”

“Good thing we stayed low,” Talia replied, patting the giant bird on the back of its head. “What should we do once we hit shore?”

“Stealth as much as possible,” Catherine said. “But if it looks like we’re going to be discovered, switch into diplomat mode. Fighting is the last thing we want. We don’t have the numbers.”

“And what exactly are we looking for here?” Marie asked. “If the Yama have weaknesses, we won’t find it on the surface. And if their entire people are our enemy, they will know who you are.”

“That’s why you’ll be acting as the current Queen of Allay. Wife to Seeker.”

“Ugh!” Marie exclaimed. “That rivermouth? What about you?”

“I’ll be going incognito,” Catherine giggled, taking out her eidolon, fashioning it into a dagger and chopping at her hair as if it was a clump of weeds. Talia couldn’t help but chortle as Daisy fought back a smile.

“Goodness, that looks terrible,” Marie laughed. Catherine smiled and began concentrating on her attire, using manifestations to alter pieces of her face, changing her eye color, making her cheeks fatter and transforming what she was wearing altogether. By the time she was done, she looked like an Allayan commoner, with a wool shirt, dirty pants and a face that begged to be washed.

“I trust you,” Catherine said. “You’ll do great.”

“Well, I do act more like a Queen in my sleep than you did in all years on the throne.”

“Your honesty is so refreshing.”

“I aim to please,” she replied as Catherine slapped her on the back. Talia made sure the bird slowed down even though they were still miles out. There was so much to prepare for, and hopefully, they had not already been seen.

*              *              *

“There’s no point,” Lily replied as they navigated the forest. Having spent several days in the Quietus forest, it was weird to be back in more familiar surroundings. Suddenly the trees were spaced too far apart. The ground made too much noise as their feet stepped on freshly dewed grass and crunched on recently fallen leaves. It felt like they were announcing their arrival.

“The Quietus live near Allay, but we shouldn’t have to worry about them just yet,” Bastion replied, ignoring her. “Not unless they’ve expanded.”

“Did you hear a word I said?” Lily whispered loudly. “There’s no point going to Languor. Now that we’re closer, it’s obvious that they are overrun with Yama. If there’s anyone left, it’s probably not going to be anyone that can help us. They would be children or slaves.”

“What do you propose?”

“Going to Allay. We can gain more allies there. There are other Sages there, right?”

“Yeah, should be. But I wonder who’s in charge now. If Orchid is still there…I don’t know if she would allow me to help.”

“We’ll never know until we try.”

“Are there any Yama in Allay, from what you can tell?”

“No, there’s none,” she replied.

“Where are they now?”

“They are mostly in Languor and to the southwest, staying away from the last two Kingdoms. Unless they are wrapping around and they’re about to hit Allay from the Far East.”

“Either way, we have to make a decision to…to…one sec.” Bastion crouched down low and then he leapt straight up in the air, leaving Lily wondering what was happening. Bastion unsheathed his eidolon as he hit the top of the oak tree, slashing at the branches above. Though they were clumped together, similar to the foliage in Quietus, there were a lot more visible holes, and so he could see them hiding plainly. The three Langorans fell from the tree and into the grass hard. Lily winced as they grunted and began climbing to their feet. Bastion landed on his and immediately he approached them with his Gladius still glowing bright in his hand.

“You guys are too big to be hiding in trees,” he said to them, watching as they scrambled off of their knees.

“Sorry,” one grunted, lifting his head to face Bastion. “But from what I’ve heard, I thought it would be smarter to keep my distance from you.” Bastion’s eyes widened in both surprise and nostalgia. A smile crept upon his face.

“Fern? Geez, I had no idea it was you!” he laughed. Lily looked at him oddly as Bastion helped him to his feet. “What are you doing out here?”

“Apparently the trees are the safest place to be right now. Stupid Quietus. They always have it best.”

“I thought you would still be in Allay.”

“What? For the Academy? Nah. I was never serious about all that. Been home for a while now. Looks like you’ve gotten bigger.” He waved his hands over Bastion’s right hand. “Biceps and all. Hey, this is Urchin and Jon. A couple buddies of mine. Guys, this is Bastion. That short kid I was telling you about that knocked Mason on his ass.”

They nodded but they didn’t look impressed.

“Why were you guys hiding?” Lily asked, breaking up the little reunion. Fern looked at her in surprise, glancing at her up and down with raised eyebrows.

“Who’s this?” he asked Bastion, pointing a thumb toward her.

“’This’ has a name,” she said, crossing her arms.

“That’s Lily. She’s with me,” Bastion declared proudly. Lily gave him a disapproving look and he cleared his throat. “But seriously, why were you guys hiding?”

“Forest is the safest place to be right now,” he replied. “Can’t go to Allay. Can’t go to Languor, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to start spending time with the pointy noses.”

“Pointy noses?”

“You know,” Fern said, waving his arm in a “c’mon” motion. “They raise their noses high in the air because they think they know everything.”